Longer Lasting Light Bulbs
Longer lasting light bulbs can save you money and time. Changing light bulbs is a pain in the neck, so the longer your light bulbs last, the less often you’ll have to change them. And the fewer changes you have to make, the fewer total light bulbs you have to buy. Here is some advice on the different kinds of light bulbs last longer and how to find them for the least amount of money.
The prevailing long lasting light bulb is the CFL light bulb. (“CFL” stands for “compact fluorescent light.”) One of the reasons that the CFL has become so prevalent is the frugality of it as a lighting option. CFL’s last 8 to 15 times as long as a standard incandescent light bulb, and they use 80% less energy. It’s best to leave CFL lightbulbs on for at least 3 hours at a time though, so it’s not the perfect option for every lighting situation. Turning the CFL on and off a lot won’t damage it, but it won’t last as long as if you left it on for longer periods.
I also recommend the 20,000 hour 100 watt frosted light bulb, especially if you have a fixture that’s inconveniently located. Sometimes these are expensive, but you can shop around for the best price online. I’ve seen them as high as $15 and as low as $3 depending on the retailer.
Another, more expensive option for long lasting light bulbs is the Grip 30 LED light bulb. These will last up to 50,000 hours, but the light isn’t very bright. Grip 30 LED lights are only suitable in certain situations that don’t require bright lighting. I enjoy the blue tinge of these dimmer lights, but tastes vary.
